Adam Goldstein, the late Stevan Porter and Andrew Taylor have been named the 2009 inductees into the U.S. Travel Hall of Leaders maintained by the U.S. Travel Association. The executives are being recognized for their “sustained, noteworthy contributions that have positively impacted the travel industry, stimulated greater achievement, and raised Industry-wide standards.” The three executives will be honored during the U.S. Travel winter board meeting in Irving, TX, on December 3.
“Adam, Steve and Andy are great examples of top business executives with tremendous responsibilities who can still make time for contributions that benefit the entire industry,” said Roger Dow, U.S. Travel’s president and CEO. “This recognition of their service to the industry is well-deserved.”
Goldstein is president and CEO of Royal Caribbean International. He was National Chair of the U.S. Travel Association in 2001 and also served as chair of the USA Marketing Council from 1998 to 2000. Goldstein has long been active in industry issues related to promotion and facilitation of travel to the U.S. He currently serves as a member of the Energy Security Leadership Council, a group of leading CEOs and retired military leaders dedicated to spurring a comprehensive solution to U.S. energy security. Over the past 21 years, Goldstein has been a leader of Royal Caribbean's pioneering work in cruise ship design, product delivery, safety and environmental stewardship and sales and marketing.
Porter was president of the Americas region for InterContinental Hotel Group and served as Chairman of the Discover America Partnership, an industry coalition formed in 2006 which was instrumental in helping spur many reforms related to attracting more international visitors to the U.S. Among the industry successes begun by that Partnership have been expansion of the Visa Waiver Program, introduction of the model ports initiative at the nation’s 20 international airports and introduction of the Travel Promotion Act. Porter also served as co-chair of the former Travel Business Roundtable and Travel Industry Association.
Taylor, chairman and CEO of Enterprise Rent-A-Car, has long been active on the industry’s behalf and has served on the World Travel and Tourism Council as well as the U.S. Travel and Tourism Advisory Board, which offers guidance to the Secretary of Commerce on industry issues. In addition, Taylor has taken a leadership role in publicly challenging unfair, arbitrary and discriminatory excise taxes that single out and take advantage of car rental customers to fund unrelated projects and programs in local communities.
With these inductions, 81 travel industry professionals have been inducted into the Travel Industry Hall of Leaders since it was created in 1969. The 2008 inductee was Jay Rasulo, chairman of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts and former U.S. Travel chairman.
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